jesus joy

lately i've found myself in the gospels a lot. i love when familiar parables or verses every once in a while reveal some tiny new little nugget and i've found this happening a ton recently!

one such occasion i was re-reading through jesus sending out the seventy-two to proclaim his message in luke chapter 10.

at one point, jesus' followers return to him, having gone out two-by-two, and they're excited because essentially, they feel their ministry is gooood stuff and it's working. jesus gives them one of his good, cautious and semi-stern jesus warning but then...

"at that time jesus, full of joy through the holy spirit, said, 'i praise you father, lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. yes, father, this was your good pleasure.'"

so, while often i read through scripture paying attention to what is being said, sometimes i think it's really important and powerful to observe how something is being said. and this verse hit me that way.

jesus, full of joy.

in all honesty, i don't think of the j-man that way often. i think of him as respectful and submissive to his father yet powerful and unafraid to call out pharisees. i think of him as someone who is supremely confident and driven to do the lord's will in the world. i think of him breaking molds and redefining things. but i don't generally picture him as FULL OF JOY.

smiling, wrigglingly, uncontainably, almost squealing-ly joyous. and with that joy, what does he do? he turns to talk to and praise his father. soooo beautiful. i love this. so simple and tiny yet powerful.

i desire this joy-driven time with the lord. every so often my prayers or quiet times become... dry. or stiff. or empty or forced. and to be entirely honest, i think i'm semi in that place right now.

but jesus has painted for me this beautiful picture of what it means to turn to the lord, almost drunk on jesus joy! (sorry if i'm making this sound like some nasty kind of 50-cent energy drink... not my intent) but seriously. i want some of that jesus joy that comes from truly, deeply, really loving the father and just itching to go to him with everything.

you rock my socks, j-sizzle.